System and Method for Modeling a Power Over Ethernet Component in a Computing Device Platform Using a Common Information Model

1. A power over Ethernet request method in a computing device, comprising: determining a level of common information model support of a power over Ethernet service that is provided by a switch, said switch delivering power to said computing device via an Ethernet cable; getting an instance of a supported power over Ethernet service class, said power over Ethernet service class describing characteristcs of said power over Ethnet service; and transmitting a power request message to said switch, said power request message being based on a method supported by said power over Ethernet service class.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said computing device is a portable computer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said common information model is a distributed management task force common information model.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising registering the computing device with said switch using a register client message that is based on a method supported by said power over Ethernet service class.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising deregistering the computing device with said switch using a deregister client message that is based on a method supported by said power over Ethernet service class.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said power request message specifies a positive or negative increment of power.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a change state request message to said switch, said change state request message being based on a method supported by said power over Ethernet service class.

8. A power over Ethernet method in a management device, comprising: determining, via a query transmitted by said management device to a portable computing device via network communication over an Ethernet cable that couples said portable computing device to a network, a level of common information model support in said portable computing device of a power over Ethernet client class; determining a capacity of a battery in said portable computing device based on battery class information that is associated with said power over Ethernet client class; and configuring said portable computing device power over Ethernet capability based on a modification of setting data associated with said power over Ethernet client class.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said computing device is a portable computer.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said common information model is a distributed management task force common information model.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein said configuring comprises adjusting a priority.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein said configuring comprises adjusting a max allowed power for said portable computing device.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising transmitting a change state request message to said portable computing device, said change state request message being based on a method supported by said power over Ethernet client class.